Oakland Tribune: Add kick returns to Lynch's plate

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER 

BERKELEY — Cal coach Jeff Tedford, seeking to ignite his staggering football team, will have Marshawn Lynch returning kickoffs Saturday night against visiting Washington State.  "He did a nice job last year," Tedford said Monday. "We need some life in kickoff returns. Marshawn can bring it."  Benched for the second half against Oregon State after losing two fumbles, Lynch will return at running back and return kickoffs, too.  "He understands (why he was punished)," said Tedford. "He's anxious to get back to work this week."  Lynch averaged 24.8 yards on kickoff returns last year, including one return of 69 yards, and he finished third in the Pac-10. Lavelle Hawkins, Justin Forsett and Brandon Hampton have returned kickoffs this fall, with Hawkins the leader at 18.4 yards.  

SEEING RED: That familiar cry at Memorial Stadium — "Take off that red shirt" — would have fallen on deaf ears Monday. A number of Cal players wore red jerseys, symbolizing injuries.  Three starters wore red: offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan (concussion) and wide receivers Robert Jordan (collar bone) and DeSean Jackson (shoulder). Both wideouts wore arm slings.  Two more starters, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (ankle) and linebacker Desmond Bishop (knee) didn't wear red, but practiced at half speed.  "And (defensive end) Phillip Mbakogu got hurt last Thursday and didn't play (against Oregon State)," said Tedford. "He had some swelling behind his knee. We still don't know what it is."

Mbakogu practiced gingerly Monday. Tedford won't know until Thursday how many of his injured players will face the Cougars.  "The guys are anxious for a very good game," Tedford said of his team. "The attention and focus was awesome today."  Monday's practice was cut in half to 45 minutes because of all the injuries.  

AYOOB WATCH: Quarterback Joe Ayoob is Boo-ya spelled backwards, and the junior college transfer is catching heat on Web sites and letters to the editor this week after completing just 13 of 39 passes in the 23-20 loss to the Beavers.   "It's the most pressure we've had in the pocket this year," Tedford said of Ayoob's performance. "That could be part of it."  But Tedford added that Ayoob remains his No. 1 quarterback, and there are no plans to give backup Steve Levy playing time.  Tedford singled out four players who stood out Saturday: freshman linebacker Zack Follett, safeties Donnie McCleskey and Harrison Smith and punter-kickoff man David Lonie.